Michael Johnson’s ability to pull off this performance after such a long layoff goes to show that bookies may not know everything. Johnson is the seventh underdog in a row to rock the boat and dethrone the favorite with relative ease.

Johnson fought intelligently and kept a short distance between him and Edson Barboza. Barboza could not find a striking distance to unleash his brutal kicks and the only time he was able to do so was when he was backing up. Johnson did not stop rushing Barboza for fifteen straight minutes which allowed him to dictate the pace of the entire fight.

The only chance Barboza had at winning when the third round rolled by was if he finished Johnson quickly. Johnson refused to walk out of the octagon with a loss tonight, though, and dominated the final round to lock up the unanimous decision victory.

Michael Johnson def. Edson Barboza by way of Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)